Google Tensor G2 vs Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Google Tensor G2 CPU1 vs CPU2 Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
Google Tensor G2 Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)

CPU comparison

Google Tensor G2 or Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.

The Google Tensor G2 has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.85 GHz. Up to 12 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Google Tensor G2 was released in Q4/2022.

The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has 6 cores with 6 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.23 GHz. The CPU supports up to 6 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) was released in Q3/2021.
Google Tensor (4) Family Apple A series (24)
Google Tensor G2 (1) CPU group Apple A15 (2)
2 Generation 15
G2 Architecture A15
Smartphone / Tablet Segment Smartphone / Tablet
Google Tensor Predecessor Apple A14 Bionic
-- Successor Apple A16 Bionic

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Google Tensor G2 has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Google Tensor G2 is 2.85 GHz while the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has 6 CPU cores and 6 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) is at 3.23 GHz.

Google Tensor G2 Characteristic Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
8 Cores 6
8 Threads 6
hybrid (Prime / big.LITTLE) Core architecture hybrid (big.LITTLE)
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
2.85 GHz
2x Cortex-X1
A-Core 3.23 GHz
2x Avalanche
2.35 GHz
2x Cortex-A78
B-Core 2.02 GHz
4x Blizzard
1.80 GHz
4x Cortex-A55
C-Core --

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Google Tensor G2 Characteristic Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
Google Tensor AI AI hardware Apple Neural Engine
Google Edge TPU @ 4 TOPS AI specifications 16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

The Google Tensor G2 or Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.

ARM Mali-G710 MP7 GPU Apple A15 (5 GPU Cores)
0.90 GHz GPU frequency 1.34 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) --
Vallhall 3 GPU Generation 12
4 nm Technology 5 nm
1 Max. displays 3
7 Compute units 20
-- Shader 640
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory 6 GB
12 DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

ARM Mali-G710 MP7 GPU Apple A15 (5 GPU Cores)
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec h264 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec VP9 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec VP8 Decode / Encode
Decode Codec AV1 No
Decode / Encode Codec AVC Decode
Decode / Encode Codec VC-1 Decode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

The Google Tensor G2 can use up to 12 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 53.0 GB/s. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) supports up to 6 GB of memory in 1 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 34.1 GB/s.

Google Tensor G2 Characteristic Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
LPDDR5-5500 Memory LPDDR4X-4266
12 GB Max. Memory 6 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 1 (Single Channel)
53.0 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 34.1 GB/s
No ECC No
8.00 MB L2 Cache 16.00 MB
4.00 MB L3 Cache 32.00 MB
-- PCIe version --
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Google Tensor G2 is 10 W, while the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has a TDP of 7.25 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.

Google Tensor G2 Characteristic Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
10 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 7.25 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Google Tensor G2 is manufactured in 4 nm and has 12.00 MB cache. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) is manufactured in 5 nm and has a 48.00 MB cache.

Google Tensor G2 Characteristic Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
4 nm Technology 5 nm
Chiplet Chip design Chiplet
Armv8-A (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv8-A (64 bit)
-- ISA extensions --
-- Socket --
None Virtualization None
No AES-NI No
Android Operating systems iOS
Q4/2022 Release date Q3/2021
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Google Tensor G2 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 3.8 stars (50 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.2 stars (87 ratings). Rate now:

Average performance in benchmarks

Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Google Tensor G2 (63%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) (100%)
Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
Google Tensor G2 (75%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a partial load benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. In the single-core test, only the fastest CPU core is measured. The test run simulates the performance in practice.
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
8C 8T @ 2.85 GHz
1426 (64%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz
2245 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

The practical Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark tests the system's performance under partial load. The processor's maximum power consumption is far from being used up.
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
8C 8T @ 2.85 GHz
3342 (62%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz
5402 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
8C 8T @ 2.85 GHz
1068 (61%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz
1745 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
8C 8T @ 2.85 GHz
3149 (66%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz
4777 (100%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
ARM Mali-G710 MP7 @ 0.90 GHz
700 (41%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
Apple A15 (5 GPU Cores) @ 1.34 GHz
1713 (100%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
8C 8T @ 2.85 GHz
789419 (96%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz
825116 (100%)

AI performance (NPU)

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is given here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher.

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Google Tensor G2 Google Tensor G2
8C 8T @ 2.85 GHz
4 (25%)
Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz
15.8 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Google Tensor G2 Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
Google Pixel 7
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Apple iPad mini (6. Gen)
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 14
Apple iPhone 14 Plus

News and articles for the Google Tensor G2 and the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)

MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ vs Apple A16 and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ vs Apple A16 and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Posted by Stefan on 2022-09-22
With the Dimensity 9000+, Mediatek presents the latest of its smartphone chips. The successor to the Mediatek Dimensity 9000 achieves higher CPU and GPU clock frequencies thanks to better binning. The CPU clock of the prime core (A core) increases from 3.0 to 3.2 GHz. And the ARM Mali-G710 MP10 GPU can now clock at 0.9 GHz (previously 0.85 GHz).

Both are a good improvement over the Dimensity 9000 in theory but the increase in performance should not usually be noticeable in practice. In the end, the overall performance of the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ is impressive: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is beaten in Geekbench 5 in both the single-core and multi-core benchmarks.
What we know about the new Apple A16 Bionic in Apples iPhone 14
What we know about the new Apple A16 Bionic in Apples iPhone 14
Posted by Stefan on 2022-08-23
Every year Apple releases a new iPhone series and with the release of the series always the latest Apple A processor. This has become even more important in recent years, as it has also formed the basis for Apple's M processor series since 2020. The Apple M processors are based on the same core architecture as the Apple A processors, but have been significantly upgraded in many areas such as memory bandwith, amount of memory or cache.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is more powerful and efficient
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is more powerful and efficient
Posted by Stefan on 2022-07-11
Qualcomm is changing the contract manufacturer from Samsung to TSMC for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. By switching to the TSMC 4 nm manufacturing process, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is not only 10 percent faster but also 15 percent more efficient than its predecessor. This makes Qualcomm's TOP SoC one of the fastest smartphone chips on the market.

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